An update on lipophilic efficiency as an important metric in drug design.

INTRODUCTION: Lipophilic efficiency (LipE) and lipophilic metabolic efficiency (LipMetE) are valuable tools that can be utilized as part of a multiparameter optimization process to advance a hit to a clinical quality compound. AREAS COVERED: This review covers recent, effective use cases of LipE and LipMetE that have been published in the literature over the past 5 years. These use cases resulted in the delivery of high-quality molecules that were brought forward to in vivo work and/or to clinical studies. The authors discuss best-practices for using LipE and LipMetE analysis, combined with lipophilicity-focused compound design strategies, to increase the speed and effectiveness of the hit to clinical quality compound optimization process. EXPERT OPINION: It has become well established that increasing LipE and LipMetE within a series of analogs facilitates the improvement of broad selectivity, clearance, solubility, and permeability and, through this optimization, also facilitates the achievement of desired pharmacokinetic properties, efficacy, and tolerability. Within this article, we discuss lipophilic efficiency-focused optimization as a tool to yield high-quality potential clinical candidates. It is suggested that LipE/LipMetE-focused optimization can facilitate and accelerate the drug-discovery process.

1,2-Difunctionalized bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes: Long-sought-after mimetics for ortho/meta-substituted arenes.

The development of a versatile platform for the synthesis of 1,2-difunctionalized bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes to potentially mimic ortho/meta-substituted arenes is described. The syntheses of useful building blocks bearing alcohol, amine, and carboxylic acid functional handles have been achieved from a simple common intermediate. Several ortho- and meta-substituted benzene analogs, as well as simple molecular matched pairs, have also been prepared using this platform. The results of in-depth ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) investigations of these systems are presented, as well as computational studies which validate the ortho- or meta-character of these bioisosteres.

Development of a Late-Stage Diversification Strategy for the 4- and 5-Positions of 4,5,6-Trisubstituted Indazoles.

Indazoles represent a privileged motif in drug discovery. However, the formation of highly substituted indazoles can require the execution of lengthy synthetic routes with minimal opportunities to introduce diversity. In this report, we disclose the development of a late-stage diversification strategy for the 4- and 5-positions of 4,5,6-trisubstituted indazoles. A regioselective C-H functionalization and subsequent nucleophilic aromatic substitution provide two sequential points of diversification. The synthetic sequence delivers rapid access to an array of 4,5,6-trisubstituted indazoles in only four steps from readily available starting materials.

Using stereoretention for the synthesis of E-macrocycles with ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalysts.

The synthesis of E-macrocycles is achieved using stereoretentive, Ru-based olefin metathesis catalysts supported by dithiolate ligands. Kinetic studies elucidate marked differences in activity among the catalysts tested, with catalyst 4 providing meaningful yields of products in much shorter reaction times than stereoretentive catalysts 2 and 3. Macrocycles were generated with excellent selectivity (>99% E) and in moderate to high yields (47-80% yield) from diene starting materials bearing two E-configured olefins. A variety of rings were constructed, ranging from 12- to 18-membered macrocycles, including the antibiotic recifeiolide.

Stereoretentive Olefin Metathesis: An Avenue to Kinetic Selectivity.

Olefin metathesis is an incredibly valuable transformation that has gained widespread use in both academic and industrial settings. Lately, stereoretentive olefin metathesis has garnered much attention as a method for the selective generation of both E- and Z-olefins. Early studies employing ill-defined catalysts showed evidence for retention of the stereochemistry of the starting olefins at low conversion. However, thermodynamic ratios E/Z were reached as the reaction proceeded to equilibrium. Recent studies in olefin metathesis have focused on the synthesis of catalysts that can overcome the inherent thermodynamic preference of an olefin, providing synthetically useful quantities of a kinetically favored olefin isomer. These reports have led to the development of stereoretentive catalysts that not only generate Z-olefins selectively, but also kinetically produce E-olefins, a previously unmet challenge in olefin metathesis. Advancements in stereoretentive olefin metathesis using tungsten, ruthenium, and molybdenum catalysts are presented.

Ruthenium-catalyzed C-C coupling of amino alcohols with dienes via transfer hydrogenation: redox-triggered imine addition and related hydroaminoalkylations.

Ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogen transfer from 4-aminobutanol to butadiene results in the pairwise generation of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole and an allylruthenium complex, which combine to form products of imine anti-crotylation. In couplings of 1-substituted-1,3-dienes, novel C2 regioselectivity is observed. As corroborated by deuterium labeling studies, kinetically preferred hydrometalation of the terminal olefin of the 1-substituted-1,3-diene delivers a 1,1-disubstituted π-allylruthenium complex that isomerizes to a thermodynamically more stable monosubstituted π-allylruthenium complex, which undergoes imine addition with allylic inversion through a closed transition structure. Direct ruthenium-catalyzed diene hydroaminoalkylations with pyrrolidine also are described.

Catalytic enantioselective C-H functionalization of alcohols by redox-triggered carbonyl addition: borrowing hydrogen, returning carbon.

The use of alcohols and unsaturated reactants for the redox-triggered generation of nucleophile-electrophile pairs represents a broad, new approach to carbonyl addition chemistry. Discrete redox manipulations that are often required for the generation of carbonyl electrophiles and premetalated carbon-centered nucleophiles are thus avoided. Based on this concept, a broad, new family of enantioselective C-C coupling reactions that are catalyzed by iridium or ruthenium complexes have been developed, which are summarized in this Minireview.

Benzannulation via ruthenium-catalyzed diol-diene [4+2] cycloaddition: one- and two-directional syntheses of fluoranthenes and acenes.

A new benzannulation protocol is described and applied to the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Ruthenium(0)-catalyzed diol-diene [4+2] cycloaddition delivers cyclohex-1-ene-4,5-diols, which are subject to aromatization upon dehydration or Nicholas diol deoxydehydration. Employing diol and tetraol reactants, benzannulation can be conducted efficiently in one- and two-directional modes, respectively, as illustrated in the construction of substituted fluoranthenes and acenes.

Asymmetric alcohol C-H allylation and syn-crotylation: C9-C20 of tetrafibricin.

The C9-C20 segment of the fibrinogen receptor inhibitor tetrafibricin was prepared in 10 steps (longest linear sequence). Ruthenium catalyzed enantioselective syn-crotylation is used to construct C9-C13. Iridium catalyzed asymmetric alcohol C-H allylation of a commercial malic acid derived alcohol is used to construct C14-C20. Recovery and recycling of the iridium catalyst is described.

Ruthenium catalyzed hydrohydroxyalkylation of isoprene with heteroaromatic secondary alcohols: isolation and reversible formation of the putative metallacycle intermediate.

Heteroaromatic secondary alcohols react with isoprene to form products of hydrohydroxyalkylation in the presence of ruthenium(0) catalysts generated from Ru3(CO)12 and tricyclohexylphosphine, enabling direct conversion of secondary to tertiary alcohols in the absence of premetalated reagents or stoichiometric byproducts. The putative oxaruthenacycle intermediate has been isolated and characterized, and reversible metallacycle formation has been demonstrated.

Ruthenium catalyzed reductive coupling of paraformaldehyde to trifluoromethyl allenes: CF3-bearing all-carbon quaternary centers.

Trifluoromethyl substituted allenes engage in ruthenium catalyzed reductive couplings with paraformaldehyde to form products of hydrohydroxymethylation as single regioisomers. This method enables generation of CF3-bearing all-carbon quaternary stereocenters.

Enantioselective conversion of primary alcohols to α-exo-methylene γ-butyrolactones via iridium-catalyzed C-C bond-forming transfer hydrogenation: 2-(alkoxycarbonyl)allylation.

Upon exposure of acrylic ester 1 to alcohols 2a-i in the presence of a cyclometalated iridium catalyst modified by (-)-TMBTP, catalytic C-C coupling occurs, providing enantiomerically enriched 5-substituted α-exo-methylene γ-butyrolactones 3a-i. Bromination of the methylene butyrolactone products followed by zinc-mediated reductive aldehyde addition provides the disubstituted α-exo-methylene γ-butyrolactones 6a and 6b with good to excellent levels of diastereoselectivity.

Consecutive iridium catalyzed C-C and C-H bond forming hydrogenations for the diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of syn-3-fluoro-1-alcohols: C-H (2-fluoro)allylation of primary alcohols.

Commercially available (2-fluoro)allyl chloride serves as an efficient allyl donor in highly enantioselective iridium catalyzed carbonyl (2-fluoro)allylations from the alcohol or aldehyde oxidation level via transfer hydrogenation. Diastereoselective Crabtree hydrogenation of the resulting homoallylic alcohols provides syn-3-fluoro-1-alcohols.